Not as I've Done

Do as I say, not as I've done.  Buying clothes that don't fit is a bad idea.  It's demoralizing and a waste of money.  Nonetheless, I purchased this dress on a shopping trip with my sister a few years ago.  Years!  It just barely fit the day I got it.  Then, after a combination of self-consciousness and weight gain, it moved to the back of my closet until today.  Today is the first time I've ever worn it.  It would have made a lot more sense to buy a dress that fit and in which I felt confident in the first place.

 

Dress, Younkers; shoes, Younkers; necklace and earrings, handmade by me; bracelet, flea market.

 

I've (foolishly) bought a lot of clothes that don't fit over the years.  Sometimes it has been because I think I need to lose a little more weight before a style will look good on me.  Sometimes it has been because of a twisted sense of optimism... eg. "I've already lost 10 pounds, so surely I'll lose 10 more."  Oddly, it wasn't until I stopped that silliness that I actually started to fit into all those clothes.

 

I love these shoes, but they really aren't the right ones for this outfit.  I should have chosen something that extended the line of my legs instead of cutting them off.  These shoes would work better in the winter with tights.  I did get a number of compliments on the shoes...  All from male coworkers.

Another Turn Around the Sun

As many of you know and are tired of hearing, today is my birthday.  You may wonder why I get so excited at birthdays.  Everyone has one, and some see it as simply marking off one more year of existence.  Well, I made it through another year, and that is more than approximately 56,597,000 people annually can say.

I have now lived almost three decades (next year).  If I were a Neanderthal, I'd be a senior citizen.  In the early 20th century I would have been past middle-aged.  As it is, I'm glad that I should be in the first part of my life (Fingers crossed.  I could wake up dead tomorrow, but I hope not.).

This is my own, personal holiday where I can celebrate what make me "me."  Every year I look back at the things I've accomplished, the people I've met, and the lessons I've learned.  The experiences I've had, both good and bad, shape who I am.  I'm not afraid of getting older.  I'm not trying to hang on to the past.  I want to see and experience more and more in the coming years.    So today I'll celebrate my life- the things that have happened and the potential the future holds.  The best is yet to come.

Happy birthday to all of you too, whenever your celebration is.  :)

Year One: Happy Blogoversary to Me

This was day one of "I Dream of..."

This blog was born one year ago today.  To the right you'll see what I wore on November 29, 2011.  That day I opted for a jacket, scarf, jewel tones, lace, and boots.

By the time I started this blog I had already been experimenting with my style for some months, but the experience of taking and posting photos changed the way I think about clothing.

I blog as encouragement to challenge myself, live beautifully, and love my life, and I feel like I succeeded at all three this year.  I did not accomplish every element every day, but I have made progress.

Today's outfit was inspired by my first OOTD.  I still have a jacket, scarf, jewel tones, lace, and boots, but this year's choice reflects the happiness and confidence I've found in the past twelve months.  I added an animal print belt, because I would be remiss in forgetting animal print in any retrospective outfit.

 

Trench coat, c/o eShakti.com; top, Younkers; scarf, Target; lace overlay skirt, Target; belt, Walmart; tights, Target; boots, Rack Room Shoes; necklace and earrings, purchased in Cozumel.

 

My style hasn't changed that much in the past year, but my confidence has skyrocketed.  I now wear many of the things I've been too scared to try.  It doesn't always work, but even when it doesn't it's okay.  It's just fashion.  It's not that serious.

 

I completed my blogoversary outfit with the topaz necklace and earrings I wore on my wedding day.  I had to pay tribute to Stephen.  He loves and supports me every day, even days I know he thinks I'm insane.  He really is the best.

 

Thank you for joining me on my journey.  Whether you've been reading from the beginning or found me for the first time today, I'm glad you're here.  Let's see where the next year takes us.

Don't Listen to Kelly Osborne

This morning on the Today Show Kelly Osborne said not to wear animal print this season.  Good thing I wear what makes me happy and not what Kelly Osborne says I should wear.  Half my wardrobe would be eliminated without animal print.

I'll be back later with some real posts.  Keep wearing what makes you happy.

Election Connection

Let's see, where did I put my soap box.  Ah, there it is.

Today is election day here in the USA.  If you're an American, I hope you're exercising your right to vote or have already done so.

Image Credit: rockthevote.com
You can never go wrong with a
Game of Thrones reference.

Image Credit: rockthevote.com
The Ryan Gossling "Hey Girl" meme never ceases to amuse me.

The most important part of elections for me used to be seeing my candidate win.  I still want my candidate to win.  I really, really want him (or her) to win, but the democratic process is about so much more than any one candidate.  It means so much to live in a nation where we all can take part in choosing our leaders.  That means even people who don't agree with me.

It's not a peace sign or V for vicotry.

It's V for vote!

I'm happy when the democratic process works, even when I am disappointed in the outcome of an election.  Winning doesn't make a side right, and losing doesn't make it wrong.  It is as hard for me to say as it is to put into practice, but that doesn't mean it's not correct.

 

I'm feeling patriotic in my red, white and blue realness.  Blue stripes are as good as red, right?  And zebra stripes are as good as plain ones... or better.

Vote!  Do it

Cardigan, Walmart; button-down shirt, thrifted; skirt, thrifted; tights, Target; shoes, Payless Shoes; earrings, TJ Maxx; necklace, Fire Mountain Gems.

I can't find a source for this image.  I saw it on facebook.

A Message for Your Mind (Plus Bonus Message)

Yesterday I joined Chenille in doing something very important... Voting!  Voting is the best.  I do it at every opportunity.  To paraphrase the Tammany Hall politicians, vote early, vote as often as legally allowed.  I actually tend to get a little choked up when I vote.  It is just such a privilege.

 

Dress, thrifted; t-shirt, gifted (thanks Stephen!), available on ThinkGeek.com; tights, Younkers; shoes, Payless Shoes; belt, Walmart; earrings, gifted (thanks Chenille!); buttons and cuff, Claire's.

 

I bought these leopard tights when I was visiting Iowa last spring.  They were on final clearance for under $2, but I knew even then that Winter Is Coming, so I grabbed every pair in my size.

I met Stephen four years ago yesterday, and we went on our first date November 4, 2008.  I also voted that day.  That was quite the exciting day for me!

Debbie Downer: Doggie Dumping

Someone dumped a dog again near where I work.  I get so angry with the cowardly assholes who leave their dog somewhere rather than surrendering it to an organization that could help.  When I first pulled into the parking lot I thought she was dead.  She wasn't dead, but she was neglected.  She had a bare, raw strip around her neck where a collar had rubbed when she was tied out.  She was lame with a sore on one foot.  She had recently had a litter of puppies.  In spite of this, when I stopped my car and talked to her she got up and wagged.  She had a hard time walking, but she hobbled over and smiled at me.  I lured her out of the traffic area with string cheese from my lunch.  She liked the cheese.   Then my coworker pulled up in his truck, and I realized I was crying.  It was embarrassing.

How could anyone throw this smile away?

It seems obvious that the dog had been dumped.  She was too lame to have escaped.  She could hardly walk, not to mention run away.  As soon as I stopped the cheese and petting she dragged herself back to the front of the parking lot where I had first spotted her.  I think she was going back to where she had last seen her people- where her people had thrown her away.  In spite of the neglect and abandonment she was still waiting expectantly for them to come back.

Someone had already called animal control when I got there, and they came to collect her.  The animal control officer was kind.  He lifted her gently into the pen even though it is standard to use a noose pole to keep the officer out of harms way.  Hopefully things will work out for her, but no matter what happens she is better off than she was loose near a highway.

I'll probably always be the kind of person who cries over abused and neglected dogs.  It sucks, but it beats the alternative.  I hope I never become desensitized to the suffering of others- humans or creatures.  I would rather hurt when others are in pain than feel nothing at all.

Attitude Rant

When I lived in Iowa I was fortunate enough to get to know speaker and goal coach Matt Booth.  The most important thing I took away from my experiences with him is the importance of attitude.  As Matt says, checking your attitude is like brushing your teeth.

"If you don't brush your teeth, your mouth stinks, and if you don't check your attitude, your attitude stinks."  

Sometimes we just need a little reminder that we choose our own adventure in this life, so we might as well choose to enjoy it.

Last night I was exposed to some of the worst attitude I've heard in a while.  I overheard a woman talking about running, especially 5k races.

"If it's a race you can't walk," she said.  "If you can't run the whole thing you just shouldn't do it."
This caught my attention because I have run/walked a number of 5ks and I know many, many people who have done the same.

Gadget has a great attitude towards alternating walking and
running: he says yes, please.

The woman continued on to say that she would never do a race.  She does not run or even exercise at all.  She said she is "just not competitive" and has no desire to do it.  Who the hell does she think she is to make rules for people and situations that don't even apply to her?

I could delve into her motivation- is she insecure about her own abilities and so wanting to cut down the aspirations of others?- but I don't know this woman from Eve.

I think the take home lesson here is don't make rules for others.  Live your life.  Check your attitude. You do you, and let others do the same.